From Remembrance to Advent 4 - 'Longing for Light'
In the name of Almighty God, Father Son and Holy Spirit
Amen
The Lord be with you
ALL: And also with you
This is the day the Lord has Made
ALL: We shall rejoice and be glad in it
As we light our advent candle
Light of the world, shine on us.
As we prepare for Christmas time
Light of the world, shine on us.
In this world of pain and darkness,
Light of the world, shine through us.
To all the people who don’t know you,
Light of the world, shine through us.
Jesus you are coming again,
Light of the world, light the way.
In our service here today
Light of the world, light the way.
Reader God told Abraham that through him all the nations of the world would be blessed, because he trusted and put his hope in God. The Old Testament spoke of the coming of Christ, of how a Saviour would be born, a king in the line of King David. He would rule the world wisely and bless all the nations. We too believe in God’s promise to send Jesus again to this world to establish his kingdom upon the earth.
Hope is like a light shining in a dark place.
As we light our advent candle
Light of the world, shine on us.
As we prepare for Christmas time
Light of the world, shine on us.
In this world of pain and darkness,
Light of the world, shine through us.
To all the people who don’t know you,
Light of the world, shine through us.
Jesus you are coming again,
Light of the world, light the way.
In our service here today
Light of the world, light the way.
Reader The Second Candle of Advent, the Candle of Peace. We remember the prophets who spoke of the coming of Christ, of how a Saviour would be born, a king in the line of King David. The prophet Isaiah called Christ “the Prince of Peace”.
Peace be with us all and with the world
As we light our advent candle
Light of the world, shine on us.
As we prepare for Christmas time
Light of the world, shine on us.
In this world of pain and darkness,
Light of the world, shine through us.
To all the people who don’t know you,
Light of the world, shine through us.
Jesus you are coming again,
Light of the world, light the way.
In our service here today
Light of the world, light the way.
Reader Third Candle of Advent, the Candle of Love. In their old age God gave to Zechariah and Elisabeth a son called John. John spoke to the people bravely in the desert denying his own comforts and prepared to die for what he believed. John taught that we should share what we have with others, treat each other kindly and show Gods love.
Let Our Love be like a candle shining in a dark place
As we light our advent candle
Light of the world, shine on us.
As we prepare for Christmas time
Light of the world, shine on us.
In this world of pain and darkness,
Light of the world, shine through us.
To all the people who don’t know you,
Light of the world, shine through us.
Jesus you are coming again,
Light of the world, light the way.
In our service here today
Light of the world, light the way.
Reader the Fourth Candle of Advent, the Candle of Joy. When the angel Gabriel told Mary that a special child would be born to her she was filled with joy. She sang a song that began with the words: “My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour. Just as the birth of Jesus gave great joy to his mother, so his presence in the world gave joy to those who had none before. He healed them and gave them hope and peace when they believed in him.
From hope, peace, and love grows joy. Let us be joyful for we are together and the Son is born in us again
Restore us, O God
Make your face shine upon us,
That we may know your Love
Uphold us, O God
Embrace us in your arms
That we might be filled with Hope
Uplift us, O God
With the promise of your Word
That we might know your Truth
Heaven and earth may pass away
But your word of truth remains
A FEW MOMENTS OF SILENCE
‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.’
‘… And the Spirit (the breath) of God was hovering over the waters.’
(John 1:1-3, Genesis 1:2)
Lord of the morning of dawn chorus rising sun mist on water
Lord of the noontime of chattering voices laughter and fun sparkling water
Lord of the evening of quiet breeze setting sun gentle waters day that’s done
O Lord, our Lord
How majestic is your name in all the earth
You have set your glory above the heavens
And from the lips of children ordained praise
O Lord, our Lord
How majestic is your name in all the earth
HYMN
Prayers of Penitence
Creative God, breath of all life Through whom all things are created and sustained;
You walked this earth as child and Creator
You touched the soil quenched our thirst embraced this world brought life and light
love and laughter into dark and death-filled lives
Creative God, breath of all life
Through whom all things are created and sustained
We bring to you our sacrifice of a contrite and willing heart
In your time, Creator God This world was formed And in your time
Became beautiful Through the craftsmanship of your love.
Remind us always As we look at sunrise, landscape and tiny child
That at the centre of all things
Is the creative love of God.
In your time, Loving God When we had wandered far
In your perfect time You embraced the prodigal Within the security of your arms.
Remind us always As we look at pain caused
And hardship endured That at the centre of all things
Is the forgiving love of God.
In your time, Saving God You walked upon this earth
And in your time Became one of us
To show what we could become Remind us always
As we look at our lives In comparison with yours
That at the centre of all things
Is the saving Grace of God
In your time, Mighty God You will come in glory
And in your time
Gather the harvest From one end of this earth to the other
Remind us always In times of plenty
And in times of famine That at the centre of all things
Is the love and mercy of God
Amen
‘Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he answers him from his holy heaven with the saving power of his right hand.
‘Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
‘They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.’
(Psalm 20:6-8)
May this eternal truth be always on our hearts
That the God who breathed this world into being
Placed stars into the heavens And designed a butterfly’s wing
Is the God who entrusted his life to the care of ordinary people
became vulnerable that we might know how strong is the power of Love
A mystery so deep it is impossible to grasp, a mystery so beautiful it is impossible to ignore
The saints were faithful unto death
and now dwell in the heavenly kingdom for ever.
As we celebrate their joy,
let us bring to the Lord in silence our failings and weaknesses,
and ask for his mercy.
SILENCE
Father eternal, giver of light and grace,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour,
in what we have thought,
in what we have said and done,
through ignorance, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We have wounded your love
and marred your image in us.
We are sorry and ashamed,
and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
who died for us,
forgive us all that is past;
and lead us out from darkness
to walk as children of light.
Amen.
Absolution
The collect of the Day
We join in the Song of the Angels and say the Gloria
All: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.
Amen
Psalm/Music (On Screen)
Reading 1
HYMN (on Screen)
Gospel Readings
Sermon
Music/Reflection
The Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen
The Peace
Intercessions
… Concludes with:
Merciful Lord accept these prayers for the sake of your Son Saviour Jesus Christ Amen
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
Closing Prayers
Lord Jesus, Son of God, Saviour of the world
All: Be the centre of all that we are, and the life that we lead
Lord Jesus, Light in this dark World, illuminate our hearts and minds
All: Be the centre of all that we are, and the life that we lead
In the lonely places The wilderness Where we stand forlorn
Windswept and alone your voice calls out
Prepare a way for the Lord
In the dark places
The shadows
Where we hide our fears
Embrace our tears
Your voice calls out
Prepare a way for the Lord
For the desert places in which we walk
The streets we roam The paths we cross
Guide our feet Take us to places
Where you would go Give us words that you would use
Of promise and preparation
We might in the days ahead point the way with John the Baptist
To the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!